Day: April 21, 2024

The Otjiwarongo-Otavi police roadblock in the Otjozondjupa Region on Saturday received a donation of 43 reflective jackets and 15 orange cones to increase visibility of the officers operating at this busy B1 roadblock outside Otjiwarongo. The donation is a joint effort of the Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) and the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund at a cost of nearly N.dollars 64 000. MTC Corporate Affairs Manager, John Ekongo and MVA Fund Injury Prevention and Crash Assessment Coordinator, Daniel Mouton jointly handed over the road safety materials to the Namibian Police Force (NamPol)'s Otjozondjipa police commander, Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze. Ekongo, in his remarks, also listed a diesel generator, electricity cables, chairs, tables as well as torches and their batteries to be part of this donation. 'Do talk to us when you need support because this is all done in an effort to support our police officers who are working hard to keep the public roads safe day and night,' said Ekongo. Tjiveze on his part thanked MTC and the MVA Fund for the donation, saying the police will continue to work very hard in order to keep the public roads safe for everyone. 'We also urge motorists wherever they come from in this country and are passing through our town to always drive carefully and adhere to the traffic rules and regulations,' he said. The police officer further stated that the reflector jackets will be widely distributed to NamPol members at the roadblock so that the materials assists in clearly identifying the police officers carrying out their duties either during the day or at night. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly has held its annual Town Hall Meeting at Kyebi to render accounts to the citizenry. The programme was organized in partnership with Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a not-for-profit organization, as part of efforts to ensure transparency, accountability and deepen local governance in the area. Mrs Akosua Asabea Annoh, Abuakwa South Municipal Chief Executive, commended ACA for collaborating with the Assembly to execute community-driven projects in some towns in the area and called for the inclusion of more communities. She gave the assurance that the assembly would continue to partner with ACA to bring development and local governance to the doorsteps of the people. The Municipal Planning Officer, Mr Aaron Addo Yirenkyi, in a presentation, said that most of the developmental projects were in the areas of infrastructural, economic, agriculture, health, education, sanitation and economic support to some Persons Living with disabilities among others. Mr Godfred Osei Nimako, ACA's Project Manager, emphasized the importance of community members' involvement in sustainable development initiatives as it was cost-effective and created a deep sense of project ownership and cooperation among the people. He noted that the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) is the main tool being used by ACA to execute projects in partnership with local authorities in the Bono East and the Eastern Regions. Following a successful piloting in seven communities in Bono East and Eastern regions, FCAP is being rolled out in a 100 more communities, with 55 beneficiary communities at various stages of completion of their selected projects. The Project Manager was, however, worried about the inability of some community members to meet periodically as required under the FCAP implementation process and called for a renewed commitment by the beneficiary communities to improve their living conditions. Source: Ghana News Agency

Eleven students from the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana have donated 10 plastic chairs to the Ashaiman Municipal Office of the Social Welfare and Community Development Department.? According to the students, who were on an eight-week internship at the office, they identified a problem, which was the inadequate chairs at the department, and interacted with Dr. Vyda Mamley Hervie, Lecturer and Academic Field Supervisor, University of Ghana, on the issue. They were motivated by their supervisor to find a solution to the challenge, thus presenting the chairs. They described the department as the best place to gain practical knowledge and paid critical attention to the formulation and implementation of policies to support individuals and groups in need of various social services. Mr. Ibrahim Talata Saru, the leader of the interns, handed over the chairs to the department, saying the internship was a tremendous real-life work experience that would help them make a difference in their futur e careers. He said the field experience gained would build their confidence and give them a?sense of purpose by developing a deeper understanding of the courses they were studying. Ms. Anita Gyan, another leader, said that their activities focused on child non-maintenance cases, which included court work, family welfare, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), and daycare supervision, among others. She added that the valuable work experience gained would expand their job network, help them explore interests, and help them form their personal career goals. Mrs.?Jemima Agyeman, the?Principal Social Work Development Officer, Ashaiman Municipal?Assembly,?commended the students for their kind gesture and being one of the best interns?posted to the assembly to gain practical knowledge. She explained that the eight-week stay was vibrant and productive as they were ready to learn, accepted their mistakes, and listened to corrections, stressing that these were character traits expected to ensure an enablin g work environment, paving the way for them to give out their best in teaching them. 'We are surprised; all along we didn't know they were even planning to do this, which means that wherever they are, they can identify problems and find solutions to them,' she stated. ? Mrs. Agyeman asked for God's blessing for the students for their support and selfless act. Source: Ghana News Agency

The Women Youth, Peace, and Security Institute (WYPSI) of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), has sensitised Ada Senior High School students on women in peacekeeping operations. The sensitization programme, which is funded by the Elsie Initiative Fund of Canada, aligns with the Government of Ghana's commitment to the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, a global effort to empower women in peacekeeping roles. The nationwide initiative aims at promoting opportunities for women in the military and increasing their participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, with a focus on encouraging young women to consider careers in the GAF, particularly combat units, which offer strong leadership development opportunities for future deployments. The campaign also seeks to challenge misconceptions by addressing stereotypes and providing accurate information about the diverse and fulfilling careers available to women in the military. Group Captain Theodora Agornyo, the Gender Policy Advisor to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), educating the students on the work of the GAF, urged women to exploit opportunities in the forces to advance their careers, especially in the combat unit, and to climb to top positions. Group Captain Agornyo told the Ghana News Agency that the goal of the programme was to get women to the decision-making level in peacekeeping operations, and that is only possible when one gets to the very top as a service commander or a commanding officer in the Ghana Armed Forces. She continued that they were encouraging women to enter the combat unit because it was only in that unit that they could get to the very top?of the GAF. The programme, which was launched in 2023, aimed to reach over 20,000 students across 85 senior high schools and selected universities across the 16 regions of Ghana. The campaign, according to Captain Agornyo, has so far been to the Central, Eastern, Volta, and Oti Regions, while the G reater Accra and Bono Regions commenced on April 15, 2024. Ghana, she said, recognised the crucial role women play in achieving successful peace operations, as women peacekeepers often connect more effectively with local communities, particularly women and children, who are frequently the most impacted by conflict. This national campaign builds on Ghana's existing efforts to promote gender equality in the military, including the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions calling for increased participation of women in peacekeeping missions. Source: Ghana News Agency